The Immune Synapse

Description

In immunology, the interface between an antigen-presenting cell (APC) and a lymphocyte is known as the immunological synapse. APC populations possess either immunostimulatory or modulatory functions dependent upon their surface marker expression. One such marker of interest is Indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase, or IDO. IDO+ dendritic cells have the ability to suppress effector T cells, biasing them towards a regulatory phenotype, a phenomenon called linked suppression. This illustration depicts the moment when the IDO+ dendritic cell joins the effector T cell in an immunological synapse.